Test Your Reflex

Infobox musical artist
Name = Test Your Reflex


Img_capt = RCA promo photo by James Minichin III
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = flagicon|USA Thousand Oaks, California, USA
Genre = Indie rock/pop, Alternative rock
Years_active = 2004–present
Label = RCA Records
URL = http://www.testyourreflex.net
Current_members = Ryan Levine - lead vocals, guitar, keyboards Clark - lead guitar Agustin Sanchez - bass, backing vocals Andrew Ampaya - piano, keyboard, vocals Sal Cortez - drums, backing vocals

Test Your Reflex is an indie rock/pop band from Los Angeles, California. Their 2007 debut release was "The Burning Hour" (released April 24, 2007) on RCA Records. The album has been described as having an 80s sound cite web | url = http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/cl-wk-bands19apr19,1,3493249.story?ctrack=1&cset=true | title = LA Times "Buzz Bands" | work = LA Times | first = Kevin | last = Bronson | accessdate = 2007-04-19 ] with hints of U2, The Cars, and Simple Mindscite web | url = http://www.amazon.com/Burning-Hour-Test-Your-Reflex/dp/B000NVL9JW | title = Amazon.com Editorial Review | work = Amazon.com | first = Kathleen C. | last = Fennessey | accessdate = 2007-04-24 ] as well as The Curecite web | url = http://www.spin.com/features/band_of_the_day/2007/01/070104_testyourreflex/ | title = SPIN.com Artist of the Day | work = SPIN.com | accessdate = 2007-01-05 ] cite web | url = http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,3893693,00.html | title = The Burning Hour: album review | work = Allmusic | first = Jason | last = Lymangrover | accessdate = 2007-10-03 ] cite web | url = http://www.popsyndicate.com/site/story/test_your_reflex_the_burning_hour/ | title = Pop Syndicate Album Review | work = popsyndicate.com | first = G. | last = Murray | accessdate = 2007-07-30 ] and The Killerscite web | url = http://www.bullz-eye.com/cdreviews/harris/test_your_reflex-the_burning_hour.htm | title = Bullz-Eye Album Review | work = Bullz-eye.com | first = Will | last = Harris | accessdate = 2007-01-10 ] .

The band featured on the MySpace Tribute to the Smashing Pumpkins album released on MySpace Records and distributed in the July 2007 issue of SPIN Magazinecite web | url = http://www.spin.com/pumpkinstribute/2007/05/072505_testyourreflex/ | title = Test Your Reflex 'Adore' the Pumpkins | work = SPIN Magazine | accessdate = 2007-05-25 ] . They liken themselves to other bands on the Pumpkins tribute, such as The Braverycite web | url = http://www.rhapsody.com/testyourreflex/testyourreflextherhapsodyinterview | title = Rhapsody interview | work = Rhapsody Online | accessdate = 2007-10-03 ] .All tracks appeared on each band's MySpace page from May 14, 2007. "Test Your Reflex" opened for The Smashing Pumpkins on July 22, 2007 at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Before that, from March 22, 2007 to May 12, 2007, "Test Your Reflex" toured the US with the Detroit-based band Electric Six.

Television performances include two appearances with Carson Daly. On June 22, 2007 the band appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly and the following month performed on the Carson Daly show (aired July 12, 2007cite web | url = http://www.episodeworld.com/show/Last_Call_With_Carson_Daly/season=6/english | title = Last Call with Carson Daly Episode Listing | work = episodeworld.com | accessdate = 2007-07-12 ] ).

History and Influences

The group is comprised of five musicians of various backgrounds currently all between the ages of 19-21. "Test Your Reflex" started out in the rehearsal rooms of a teen center in Thousand Oaks, California. They came together in early 2004.

Having played in various electronic and rock bands since grammar school, lead singer Levine decided he wanted to try something new. Inspired by classic albums like U2’s The Joshua Tree, Peter Gabriel’s So and Joni Mitchell’s Bluecite web | url = http://acedmagazine.com/content/view/70/31/ | title = The Burning Hour: Review | work = ACED Magazine | first = Dave | last = Atkinson | accessdate = 2007-01-22 ] , after experimenting in his garage, Levine gradually developed the sound that would become "Test Your Reflex".

It started when Levine met drummer Sal Cortez through an ex-girlfriend. The two then began searching for others to join them. After many months they finally found guitarist RC (a.k.a. Clark), a former guitarist of Los Angeles hardcore band R.O.H. Then came keyboardist Andrew Ampaya, a classically trained piano player with similar musical influences. With innovative and like-minded bassist Agustin Sanchez joining shortly thereafter, the first and final line up of "Test Your Reflex" was createdcite web | url = http://acedmagazine.com/content/view/70/31/ | title = The Burning Hour: Review | work = ACED Magazine | first = Dave | last = Atkinson | accessdate = 2007-01-22 ] .

Media Coverage/Online Releases

Last Call with Carson Daly - July 12, 2007cite web | url = http://www.episodeworld.com/show/Last_Call_With_Carson_Daly/season=6/english | title = Last Call with Carson Daly Episode Listing | work = episodeworld.com | accessdate = 2007-07-12 ]
Rhapsody Ones To Watch for May - May 7, 2007cite web | url = http://www.rhapsody.com/testyourreflex | title = Rhapsody Ones To Watch | work = Rhapsody | accessdate = 2007-05-07 ]
LA Weekly Digital Jukebox – April 19, 2007
LA Times “Buzz Bands” – April 19, 2007cite web | url = http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/cl-wk-bands19apr19,1,3493249.story?ctrack=1&cset=true | title = LA Times "Buzz Bands" | work = LA Times | first = Kevin | last = Bronson | accessdate = 2007-04-19 ]
VH1 Hear Music First – April 17, 2007cite web | url = http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/test_your_reflex/1407275/album.jhtml | title = VH1 Hear Music First | work = VH1 | accessdate = 2007-04-17 ] Artist Direct – April 12, 2007cite web | url = http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/bio/0,,3872254,00.html#bio | title = Artist Direct | work = Artist Direct | accessdate = 2007-04-12 ] Pre-RCA Release of “Pieces of the Sun” on iTunes – April 10, 2007
SPIN Magazine/SPIN.com "Artist of the Day" - January 5, 2007cite web | url = http://www.spin.com/features/band_of_the_day/2007/01/070104_testyourreflex/ | title = SPIN.com Artist of the Day | work = SPIN.com | accessdate = 2007-01-05 ]
USA Today's Pop Candy Blog – December 5, 2006cite web | url = http://blogs.usatoday.com/popcandy/2006/12/podcast_an_allm.html | title = USA Today Pop Candy Blog | work = USA Today | first = Whitney | last = Matheson | accessdate = 2006-12-05 ]

Discography

Albums "The Burning Hour" (RCA Records) April 24, 2007 - U.S. Billboard Heatseekers peak #46 [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jvftxqwdld6e~T5 Chart Positions] . Allmusic]

Compilations

Videos "Pieces of the Sun" (YouTube) cite web | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddHwbgyy8H4 | title = Pieces of the Sun video | work = YouTube | accessdate = 2007-02-05 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.testyourreflex.net Test Your Reflex official web site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/testyourreflex Official Test Your Reflex page] on MySpace